Gr 7 Up—More than just a guide for what to expect while menstruating, this is a feminist manifesto encouraging menstruation pride. Henry, a Swedish blogger and YouTube star, employs a chatty and friendly writing style to convey practical information along with her empowering message. Early chapters cover potential issues for first time menstruators such as what one might expect physically and emotionally and what sanitary protection products are available and how to use them. A brief history of how menstruation has been treated over time and across cultures is covered. Henry then addresses how to deal with potentially embarrassing situations—such as bleeding through clothing—and how to stand up to period-shamers. She encourages people to talk about having their periods and to openly carry their tampons and pads to the bathroom at school. Henry uses frank language and often refers to women as "uterus-carriers" and men as either "testicle-carriers" or "dick-owners" as she dispels myths about what you can and cannot do while menstruating, gives tips on how to talk about menstruation, and even addresses questions relating to having sex while menstruating. Black-and-white illustrations are more decorative than illustrative; goofy photographs of the youthful Henry add color and self-deprecating humor. This is a first-person, informal approach to period talk—no sources or additional resources are listed.
VERDICT Intriguing but not a must-have. Most libraries will want to stick with Karen and Jennifer Gravelle's now classic The Period Book: A Girl's Guide to Growing Up.
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